Marko Hakovirta

Dr. Hakovirta’s research is focused on sustainable business, responsible innovation, and entrepreneurship with an emphasis on the bioeconomy. He also publishes research in interdisciplinary work on topics of processing and engineering of renewable biomaterials and valorization of industrial and municipal waste. He teaches sustainability and innovation management and life cycle analysis in undergraduate and graduate levels.

Dr. Hakovirta brings his more than 20 years of leadership experience working on local, national and international topics in research, education, and strategic sustainability and innovation management. He engages with global businesses with an innovative and proactive approach, aligning sustainability and value creation.

Dr. Hakovirta is a member of the NC State University’s Faculty Senate, Fulbright specialist, TAPPI Fellow and EVA Business Fellow and is a former Board member of TAPPI and Society of Wood Science and Technology. He also advises and consults small and large corporations in bioeconomy.

Dr. Marko Hakovirta has previously worked as Senior Vice President, Innovation and New Business Development at Stora Enso Corporation and he served as Group Vice President, Technology, Environment and Quality at Metso Corporation. He has also held leadership positions at Auburn University and Georgia Tech and has held fellowships at CERN (European Particle Physics Laboratory) and at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dr. Hakovirta received his PhD, MSc and BSc degrees from the University of Helsinki, Finland and an MBA from Emory University, Atlanta.